'The Flash' Season 4: Will we get Caitlin Snow or Killer Frost?

The Flash's third season came to an end with one hell of a cliffhanger: How will Barry Allen escape the Speed Force? And while that may be the most intriguing question heading into the series' fourth season, it is not the only one left to consider. Despite defeating Savitar, Team Flash is left very much in shambles following the finale. H.R. is dead, Barry is obviously gone and Wally must step up as the hero. Furthermore, Caitlin Snow's story was not fully resolved.

While Caitlin, as Killer Frost, has been an enemy of Team Flash for the last several episodes, most fans likely assumed that she would find her way back on to the side of good by the time season three came to a close. To an extent, she did. In the final battle with Savitar, Cisco spares Killer Frost's life, and reveals that Julian had created a cure — a way for her to once again become Caitlin. This act seemed to have knocked some sense back into her.

Shortly afterward, Killer Frost, now with her voice back to normal, and eyes no longer blue like ice, joins Team Flash in defeating Savitar. Later, at H.R.'s funeral, Caitlin watches from a distance, her hair still white as snow, but her heart seemingly warmer. But when confronted by Barry, Cisco and Julian, she refuses to rejoin the team. She says that she is no longer Caitlin Snow, though agrees with Barry that she is also not Killer Frost. So, who is she?

Caitlin Snow or Killer Frost?

It's unclear what version of Caitlin we'll see when The Flash returns for its fourth season. And fans may not be the only ones in the dark. It is quite possible that even Danielle Panabaker, the actress who plays Caitlin, does not know what fate holds for her character. Several weeks ago, in an interview with ComicBook.com, Panabaker spoke about Caitlin's uncertain future.

"I've filmed the rest of the season and I don't know that our season finale leaves everything tied up in a pretty little bow," Panabaker said. "I think that there's still a lot of questions at the end of season three about what happens to Team Flash."

Now that the season three finale has come and gone, Panabaker's words ring true: We really do not know what will come of Team Flash. As for Caitlin, all signs point to her becoming some sort of hybrid between her old self and Killer Frost. What that means, though, is anyone's guess. Someone who likely has a good idea, though, is series executive producer Andrew Kreisberg.

"How and if she becomes Caitlin Snow again, or she remains Killer Frost or a version of Killer Frost, into season four, you're going to have to tune in," Kreisberg explained in an interview with Entertainment Weeklyprior to the season three finale. The answer is still not clear, and it sounds like Kreisberg is keeping things pretty close to the vest.

Can Killer Frost be good?

While Caitlin may not be Killer Frost anymore, her refusal to take Julian's cure means that she will remain a metahuman. The question then is whether Caitlin Snow can retain her metahuman abilities without resorting to a life of evil. Her history in the series would seem to indicate that the answer is no; she will turn to some life of crime. Her history in the comics, however, may point in another direction.

Like many of the villains in the DC Universe, Killer Frost has been a member of the Suicide Squad. And though surrounded by a team of villains, it appears that she may have more of an itch to do good. In fact, in a recent issue of Justice League vs. Suicide Squad, Caitlin nearly sacrifices her life rather than stealing someone else's. This leads Batman to recruit her to the Justice League.

Perhaps we will see this version of Killer Frost when The Flash returns. An awesome twist would be for the Suicide Squad to make an Arrowverse return, possibly with Caitlin as a member. This seems unlikely, though, as the Suicide Squad was largely scrapped on television in anticipation of the team's debut in the film of the same name. But it is still possible. After all, if there can be a television and film version of Superman existing simultaneously, certainly the same could be said of the Suicide Squad.

Still, even if the Suicide Squad storyline does not come in to play, portraying Caitlin as a reformed villain trying to make up for past sins could very well be the direction the series takes. But do not be surprised either if Caitlin is only able to hold back her inner Killer Frost for so long. We have seen her control the cold before, and it never seems to last. In the end, only time will tell whether we see Killer Frost or Caitlin Snow in season four.